Nov 17, 2013, 8:55 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
Check-in times as of March 2016 Link
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
For nonstop American Airlines Shuttle flights from DCA to BOS or LGA, you can check-in up to 20 minutes before departure without checked baggage and 30 minutes with checked baggage.[/QUOTE]
Wait, what's the name of this airport?
In 1998, an act of Congress renamed DCA from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Apart from costing the taxpayers millions of dollars in changing signage around town, the renaming upset left-leaning locals and traditionalists. Old-school locals will refer to the airport as "National" or "Washington National," some vehemently so. "Reagan National" has slipped into local parlance, sometimes as a political statement, sometimes as a slip of the tongue. You can avoid the politics if you just call it DCA, which is a surprisingly mainstream way of referring to it.
DCA is a very compact airport. Gates are numbered south to north. Terminal 1 is the historic terminal (1941) and its gates (A1-A9) are served by Air Canada, Southwest, and Frontier. Terminal 2, the "new" terminal (1997), is divided into the following four piers, from south to north:
Terminal 2 has three passenger accessible levels. A drop-off/departures level on the top floor, where taxis and other vehicles drop passengers and the main check-in counters are located; the concourse level in the middle, with all security screening and some secondary check-in/bag drop counters, with access to parking garages and the Metro (subway) system entrance; and a baggage/arrivals level on the bottom, where baggage claim is located along with taxi stands, bus pickups, and other passenger pickup.American Airlines at DCA
AA operates a hub at DCA. Constrained by the perimeter rule, capacity controls, and airport facility constraints, AA is nonetheless able to offer nonstop service to most destinations of consequence within 1250 miles of DCA. Beyond the 1250-mile perimeter, AA has perimeter slot exemptions to provide three daily nonstops to PHX, two daily nonstops to LAX and one to LAS.
Ticketing and Check-in
The general AA ticketing/check-in counters are on the upper level (same level as departures/drop-off) in Terminal 2. If you are not checking bags and do not need to see a desk agent, there are several kiosks opposite the ticket counters. If you arrive via Metro or park in North Parking, there are AA kiosks and staffed check-in/bag drop counters to the left just as you enter the airport from the walkway.
Curbside check-in is available for a fee.
AA Gates
Effective November 9, 2021, the entire National Hall (running north/south and connecting Concourses B through E) is all airside. As a result, it is now possible to walk between piers in Terminal 2 without the need to exit/re-clear security.
Connections to carriers in Terminal 1 (Frontier, Air Canada, Southwest) require exiting security. From the time one leaves Concourse E to the time one arrives at security for Terminal A should be no more than a brisk 12-minute walk entirely indoors. There is also an airport shuttle bus that runs around the airport, stopping at each terminal and at the rental car garage, but it probably takes just as long as walking.
Security at DCA
Although security wait times can vary depending on time/day, the screening process usually proceeds very swiftly at DCA. Effective November 9, 2021, security for Terminal 2 is handled by two new screening areas built over the roadway between the parking garage and the terminal building. Passengers flying out of gates B10 through E59 may use either screening facility, although the north area is closer to gates D35 through E59. AA gates in the old center pier, now known as Concourse C, are equidistant to the two screening areas.
DCA Lounges
AA Admirals clubs are located
Food
"Are they serving fries on this flight?" No. But your FA is using the ovens to keep warm the lunch s/he managed to grab at Five Guys.
Options for food are limited, but reasonably good.
On Concourse D:
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (a Northern Virginia homegrown favorite--wait times can be long at peak hours)
Hudson News
Kapnos Taverna (Greek)
Wow Bao (pan-Asian buns)
Washington Pour Bar
Dunkin' Donuts
Say Si Bon!
Georgetown Gourmet Market
&pizza (custom thin-crust pizza)
American Tap Room
On Concourse C:
Smashburger
Lebanese Taverna
U Street Pub
Magic Pan
Dunkin' Donuts
Say Si Bon!
El Centro D.F. (Mexican)
Taylor Gourmet (hoagies)
Big Bowl (pan-Asian stir-fries)
Forbes News
There are many airside food and shopping options in National Hall, from sushi to Spanx to Smithsonian souvenirs. Here's a map of the dining and retail options, pre and post security.
Baggage Claim
The baggage area at DCA is one level below the arrivals/gate level. Take the escalators/stairs/elevators directly ahead (across National Hall) leading to the lower level, where you will exit the secure/airside area. Monitors at the base of the escalators display carousel information for individual flights (but see caveat below).
AA baggage arrives on carousels 10-12. Pay attention to the monitors at individual carousels, as US often delivers bags on a different carousel from the one displayed on the monitors near the escalators from arrivals.
International Flights
DCA does not have customs and immigration, however pre-clearance international flights do land here. For example AA operates flights to BDA and NAS.
Foreign Currency Exchange
Travelex Currency Service is located in National Hall.
Baggage Carts
Smartecarte baggage carts are available throughout the terminals, parking garages, and at the Metrorail station. The SmarteCarte kiosks accept coins, $1 and $5 bills.
Passenger Assistance
Electric cart service for transporting passengers between gates is not available at DCA. Contact US to make arrangements for wheel chair assistance, if necessary.
Your 3-hour Connection at DCA
Step down the hall that connects Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. This passageway typically houses a small selection of area and aviation exhibits. Speaking of history, the airport was built next to George Washington's granddaughter's home, the ruins of which are on a knoll between the parking garages.
Terminal 1 has limited amenities but does have some nice views of the runways before you reach the security checkpoint; there is a Starbucks and some rocking chairs close to the prime takeoff viewing!
If you need more shopping opportunities, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is 7-10 minutes away (door to door) by Metro or cab.
Parking at DCA
Daily garages, when not full, are very convenient at DCA. If spaces are available, you can avoid the elevator by parking on garage level 2. Off-site Economy is also available, and not too far flung. See the airport website for more information.
Ground Transportation Departing DCA
Taxi service is readily available. If you have not traveled to DC in a while, you will be pleased to know that DC taxis have eliminated the zone fare system in favor of a metered fare, and now accept credit cards. From DCA to most points in downtown DC you can expect a fare of $15 to $20, depending on baggage and number of passengers.
DCA is also served by Metro, Washington's subway system. The Metro station is connected to Terminal 2 by walkway on the concourse level. DCA is served by the Yellow and Blue Line trains. Access to the station is by faregate rather than turnstile, which means that rollaboards are easily managed. Wheelchair-accessible gates are readily available and useful for larger luggage. Trains can be very crowded during peak times (so a family of four with luggage will be much better off in a cab). Travel time into downtown varies depending on destination and wait times, but averages 15 to 20 minutes.
Fares depend on distance and time of day. A SmarTrip plastic farecard is required for each traveler. The card itself costs $2 and can be purchased at vending machines just inside the station.
For more detailed information on trip durations and applicable fares, see the interactive Metro Trip Planner.
Getting to Union Station (Amtrak and MARC train to BWI, various intercity bus services)
By Metro - see map
Take a Yellow line train toward Fort Totten (or Mt. Vernon Square, or Greenbelt). Exit this train at Gallery Place/Chinatown and transfer to the Red Line train in the direction of Glenmont. This train will take you directly to Union Station. The fare for this trip is $2.85 (peak/rush hour) and $2.45 (off-peak) on weekdays and a flat $2.00 on weekends.
Estimated trip time varies; weekday midday estimate is 24 minutes but less frequent service and regular maintenance/track work on the weekends and late evenings can extend the time by an hour.
By Taxi
Estimated taxi fare during non-rush hour travel is about $17-18 (before tip), which may be worth it on weekends or if facing a deadline at Union Station.
To continue on to BWI
This map outlines DCA-BWI-IAD transit options, including:
Take Metro Yellow line train in the direction of Mt. Vernon Square, Ft. Totten, or Greenbelt; if your train's final destination isn't Greenbelt, exit at Archives station and transfer to the Green line in the direction of Greenbelt (on the same platform). Take this train to the end of the line. Connect to the B30 bus to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Service runs every hour during weekdays.
Bus fare is $7.50 and the trip should take about 40 minutes. Metro fare is $3.85/$5.90 peak and $2.00 on weekends.
Useful links:
http://wmata.com (Metro)
http://mta.maryland.gov/services/mar...mMaps/penn.cfm (MARC train Penn line)
http://amtrak.com (Amtrak)
General note about Metro: not all trains service the final stop on a given line. Greenbelt is the end of the Green line and some Yellow line trains, so you must take a train specifically to Greenbelt to reach that station. However, Silver Spring is not the terminus of the Red Line train; to reach Union Station your train may actually terminate in Glenmont. Check the Metro system maps to confirm your options.
Connecting to IAD
Taxi
Taxi fare will run upwards of $45 (as high as $80 in rush hour/stalled traffic) so public transport is the more affordable option, although the journey can be long.
The reverse journey (IAD to DCA) can be even more expensive, due to the rules on which taxis are allowed to pick up at IAD and the fares they are permitted to charge.
Public Transport - see MWAA's page
Take Metro's Blue Line toward Largo; at Rosslyn, transfer to the Silver Line in the direction of Ashburn. Or, take Metro's Yellow Line service toward Fort Totten; at L'Enfant Plaza, transfer to the Silver Line in the direction of Ashburn.
Estimated trip time: 80-90 minutes
Estimated cost: fares range from as low as $2.00 on weekends (flat rate) to as high as $6.00 during the weekday "rush" periods.
Getting to DCA via Metro
Take the Yellow or Blue Line to the airport station. Note that there are two walkways/skybridges connecting the Metro station to Terminal 2, one at each end of the Metro platform. The north skybridge is closer to Concourses C & D and the AA check-in counter, and the two walkways are equidistant to Concourse C, so travelers arriving on trains from the center city should plan to be at (or walk toward) the rear of the train upon arrival.
Walking or biking
If you're feeling energetic, there are signed walking & cycling routes to DCA from Crystal City and the Mount Vernon Trail, which connects D.C. to Alexandria. As a bonus, the trail passes through Gravelly Point Park, right below the flight paths. Bicycle racks are available within the garage, on the ground floor near the C walkway.
Rental cars
The on-airport car rental center is in the south parking garage, roughly across from Concourse B. Walk across the Concourse B bridge from the terminal to the garage (next to Cibo Bistro), turn left, and follow the signs. There's also a shuttle bus from the arrivals level.
Note: Advantage and Dollar are located off-airport and run shuttles via the arrivals level roadway.
The River Visual
The flight approaches to DCA fly over the Potomac River, in order to avoid noise impacts over the city and to avoid flights over “P-56″ (aka the Monumental Core). If winds are from the south/east, flights will land from the north and take off to the south. Planes are closer to the ground during landing than during take-off, so if you have this landing you’ll be treated to fantastic views of central D.C. (on the left side) and Arlington (on the right side) in the last few minutes of flight. YouTube has a selection of good cockpit-view videos.
If winds are from the north/west, flights will take off to the north and land from the south (i.e., "Mount Vernon Visual," with views of George Washington's house and Alexandria from the left side of the plane).
Acknowledgments
The bulk of this wiki was originally created by user DCAorBust, with substantial help from dcpatti. See post #1 in the thread for the pre-wiki version.
Check-in times as of March 2016 Link
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
For nonstop American Airlines Shuttle flights from DCA to BOS or LGA, you can check-in up to 20 minutes before departure without checked baggage and 30 minutes with checked baggage.[/QUOTE]
Wait, what's the name of this airport?
In 1998, an act of Congress renamed DCA from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Apart from costing the taxpayers millions of dollars in changing signage around town, the renaming upset left-leaning locals and traditionalists. Old-school locals will refer to the airport as "National" or "Washington National," some vehemently so. "Reagan National" has slipped into local parlance, sometimes as a political statement, sometimes as a slip of the tongue. You can avoid the politics if you just call it DCA, which is a surprisingly mainstream way of referring to it.
DCA is a very compact airport. Gates are numbered south to north. Terminal 1 is the historic terminal (1941) and its gates (A1-A9) are served by Air Canada, Southwest, and Frontier. Terminal 2, the "new" terminal (1997), is divided into the following four piers, from south to north:
- Concourse B, gates B10-B22 (Alaska, Delta, United)
- Concourse C, gates C23-C34 (American, JetBlue)
- Concourse D, gates D35-D45 (American)
- Concourse E, gates E46-E-59 (American); this is the newest pier (opened 2021)
Terminal 2 has three passenger accessible levels. A drop-off/departures level on the top floor, where taxis and other vehicles drop passengers and the main check-in counters are located; the concourse level in the middle, with all security screening and some secondary check-in/bag drop counters, with access to parking garages and the Metro (subway) system entrance; and a baggage/arrivals level on the bottom, where baggage claim is located along with taxi stands, bus pickups, and other passenger pickup.American Airlines at DCA
AA operates a hub at DCA. Constrained by the perimeter rule, capacity controls, and airport facility constraints, AA is nonetheless able to offer nonstop service to most destinations of consequence within 1250 miles of DCA. Beyond the 1250-mile perimeter, AA has perimeter slot exemptions to provide three daily nonstops to PHX, two daily nonstops to LAX and one to LAS.
Ticketing and Check-in
The general AA ticketing/check-in counters are on the upper level (same level as departures/drop-off) in Terminal 2. If you are not checking bags and do not need to see a desk agent, there are several kiosks opposite the ticket counters. If you arrive via Metro or park in North Parking, there are AA kiosks and staffed check-in/bag drop counters to the left just as you enter the airport from the walkway.
Curbside check-in is available for a fee.
AA Gates
- AA occupies all gates in the two north concourses (gates D35-D45 and gates E46-E59)
- American Eagle regional jet and turboprop flights formerly operated from Gate 35X (previously known as 35A). Gate 35X was a combined gate: when flights are called to board, passengers descend the escalator to queue for a shuttle bus transport to the aircraft at a remote stand. The new north pier, Concourse E, has now replaced 35X.
- AA occupies gates C23, C25, C27, C29, and C31-C34 in Concourse C,
- AA Shuttle flights to BOS/LGA depart from gates C29, C31, and C33 in Concourse C.
Effective November 9, 2021, the entire National Hall (running north/south and connecting Concourses B through E) is all airside. As a result, it is now possible to walk between piers in Terminal 2 without the need to exit/re-clear security.
Connections to carriers in Terminal 1 (Frontier, Air Canada, Southwest) require exiting security. From the time one leaves Concourse E to the time one arrives at security for Terminal A should be no more than a brisk 12-minute walk entirely indoors. There is also an airport shuttle bus that runs around the airport, stopping at each terminal and at the rental car garage, but it probably takes just as long as walking.
Security at DCA
Although security wait times can vary depending on time/day, the screening process usually proceeds very swiftly at DCA. Effective November 9, 2021, security for Terminal 2 is handled by two new screening areas built over the roadway between the parking garage and the terminal building. Passengers flying out of gates B10 through E59 may use either screening facility, although the north area is closer to gates D35 through E59. AA gates in the old center pier, now known as Concourse C, are equidistant to the two screening areas.
DCA Lounges
AA Admirals clubs are located
- near gates C24 and D36, accessed via stairs or elevator immediately past National Hall, and
- upstairs near gate E46, a short ride down the moving walkways from National Hall.
Food
"Are they serving fries on this flight?" No. But your FA is using the ovens to keep warm the lunch s/he managed to grab at Five Guys.
Options for food are limited, but reasonably good.
On Concourse D:
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (a Northern Virginia homegrown favorite--wait times can be long at peak hours)
Hudson News
Kapnos Taverna (Greek)
Wow Bao (pan-Asian buns)
Washington Pour Bar
Dunkin' Donuts
Say Si Bon!
Georgetown Gourmet Market
&pizza (custom thin-crust pizza)
American Tap Room
On Concourse C:
Smashburger
Lebanese Taverna
U Street Pub
Magic Pan
Dunkin' Donuts
Say Si Bon!
El Centro D.F. (Mexican)
Taylor Gourmet (hoagies)
Big Bowl (pan-Asian stir-fries)
Forbes News
There are many airside food and shopping options in National Hall, from sushi to Spanx to Smithsonian souvenirs. Here's a map of the dining and retail options, pre and post security.
Baggage Claim
The baggage area at DCA is one level below the arrivals/gate level. Take the escalators/stairs/elevators directly ahead (across National Hall) leading to the lower level, where you will exit the secure/airside area. Monitors at the base of the escalators display carousel information for individual flights (but see caveat below).
AA baggage arrives on carousels 10-12. Pay attention to the monitors at individual carousels, as US often delivers bags on a different carousel from the one displayed on the monitors near the escalators from arrivals.
International Flights
DCA does not have customs and immigration, however pre-clearance international flights do land here. For example AA operates flights to BDA and NAS.
Foreign Currency Exchange
Travelex Currency Service is located in National Hall.
Baggage Carts
Smartecarte baggage carts are available throughout the terminals, parking garages, and at the Metrorail station. The SmarteCarte kiosks accept coins, $1 and $5 bills.
Passenger Assistance
Electric cart service for transporting passengers between gates is not available at DCA. Contact US to make arrangements for wheel chair assistance, if necessary.
Your 3-hour Connection at DCA
Step down the hall that connects Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. This passageway typically houses a small selection of area and aviation exhibits. Speaking of history, the airport was built next to George Washington's granddaughter's home, the ruins of which are on a knoll between the parking garages.
Terminal 1 has limited amenities but does have some nice views of the runways before you reach the security checkpoint; there is a Starbucks and some rocking chairs close to the prime takeoff viewing!
If you need more shopping opportunities, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is 7-10 minutes away (door to door) by Metro or cab.
Parking at DCA
Daily garages, when not full, are very convenient at DCA. If spaces are available, you can avoid the elevator by parking on garage level 2. Off-site Economy is also available, and not too far flung. See the airport website for more information.
Ground Transportation Departing DCA
Taxi service is readily available. If you have not traveled to DC in a while, you will be pleased to know that DC taxis have eliminated the zone fare system in favor of a metered fare, and now accept credit cards. From DCA to most points in downtown DC you can expect a fare of $15 to $20, depending on baggage and number of passengers.
DCA is also served by Metro, Washington's subway system. The Metro station is connected to Terminal 2 by walkway on the concourse level. DCA is served by the Yellow and Blue Line trains. Access to the station is by faregate rather than turnstile, which means that rollaboards are easily managed. Wheelchair-accessible gates are readily available and useful for larger luggage. Trains can be very crowded during peak times (so a family of four with luggage will be much better off in a cab). Travel time into downtown varies depending on destination and wait times, but averages 15 to 20 minutes.
Fares depend on distance and time of day. A SmarTrip plastic farecard is required for each traveler. The card itself costs $2 and can be purchased at vending machines just inside the station.
For more detailed information on trip durations and applicable fares, see the interactive Metro Trip Planner.
Getting to Union Station (Amtrak and MARC train to BWI, various intercity bus services)
By Metro - see map
Take a Yellow line train toward Fort Totten (or Mt. Vernon Square, or Greenbelt). Exit this train at Gallery Place/Chinatown and transfer to the Red Line train in the direction of Glenmont. This train will take you directly to Union Station. The fare for this trip is $2.85 (peak/rush hour) and $2.45 (off-peak) on weekdays and a flat $2.00 on weekends.
Estimated trip time varies; weekday midday estimate is 24 minutes but less frequent service and regular maintenance/track work on the weekends and late evenings can extend the time by an hour.
By Taxi
Estimated taxi fare during non-rush hour travel is about $17-18 (before tip), which may be worth it on weekends or if facing a deadline at Union Station.
To continue on to BWI
This map outlines DCA-BWI-IAD transit options, including:
- Amtrak direct service (price varies from as low as $11 with advance purchase)
- MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) Penn Line, $8 each way
Take Metro Yellow line train in the direction of Mt. Vernon Square, Ft. Totten, or Greenbelt; if your train's final destination isn't Greenbelt, exit at Archives station and transfer to the Green line in the direction of Greenbelt (on the same platform). Take this train to the end of the line. Connect to the B30 bus to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Service runs every hour during weekdays.
Bus fare is $7.50 and the trip should take about 40 minutes. Metro fare is $3.85/$5.90 peak and $2.00 on weekends.
Useful links:
http://wmata.com (Metro)
http://mta.maryland.gov/services/mar...mMaps/penn.cfm (MARC train Penn line)
http://amtrak.com (Amtrak)
General note about Metro: not all trains service the final stop on a given line. Greenbelt is the end of the Green line and some Yellow line trains, so you must take a train specifically to Greenbelt to reach that station. However, Silver Spring is not the terminus of the Red Line train; to reach Union Station your train may actually terminate in Glenmont. Check the Metro system maps to confirm your options.
Connecting to IAD
Taxi
Taxi fare will run upwards of $45 (as high as $80 in rush hour/stalled traffic) so public transport is the more affordable option, although the journey can be long.
The reverse journey (IAD to DCA) can be even more expensive, due to the rules on which taxis are allowed to pick up at IAD and the fares they are permitted to charge.
Public Transport - see MWAA's page
Take Metro's Blue Line toward Largo; at Rosslyn, transfer to the Silver Line in the direction of Ashburn. Or, take Metro's Yellow Line service toward Fort Totten; at L'Enfant Plaza, transfer to the Silver Line in the direction of Ashburn.
Estimated trip time: 80-90 minutes
Estimated cost: fares range from as low as $2.00 on weekends (flat rate) to as high as $6.00 during the weekday "rush" periods.
Getting to DCA via Metro
Take the Yellow or Blue Line to the airport station. Note that there are two walkways/skybridges connecting the Metro station to Terminal 2, one at each end of the Metro platform. The north skybridge is closer to Concourses C & D and the AA check-in counter, and the two walkways are equidistant to Concourse C, so travelers arriving on trains from the center city should plan to be at (or walk toward) the rear of the train upon arrival.
Walking or biking
If you're feeling energetic, there are signed walking & cycling routes to DCA from Crystal City and the Mount Vernon Trail, which connects D.C. to Alexandria. As a bonus, the trail passes through Gravelly Point Park, right below the flight paths. Bicycle racks are available within the garage, on the ground floor near the C walkway.
Rental cars
The on-airport car rental center is in the south parking garage, roughly across from Concourse B. Walk across the Concourse B bridge from the terminal to the garage (next to Cibo Bistro), turn left, and follow the signs. There's also a shuttle bus from the arrivals level.
Note: Advantage and Dollar are located off-airport and run shuttles via the arrivals level roadway.
The River Visual
The flight approaches to DCA fly over the Potomac River, in order to avoid noise impacts over the city and to avoid flights over “P-56″ (aka the Monumental Core). If winds are from the south/east, flights will land from the north and take off to the south. Planes are closer to the ground during landing than during take-off, so if you have this landing you’ll be treated to fantastic views of central D.C. (on the left side) and Arlington (on the right side) in the last few minutes of flight. YouTube has a selection of good cockpit-view videos.
If winds are from the north/west, flights will take off to the north and land from the south (i.e., "Mount Vernon Visual," with views of George Washington's house and Alexandria from the left side of the plane).
Acknowledgments
The bulk of this wiki was originally created by user DCAorBust, with substantial help from dcpatti. See post #1 in the thread for the pre-wiki version.
AA Guide: DCA / Reagan Washington National Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.
Jan 27, 2019, 10:24 pm
#406
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
But why deal with TSA if you don't need to? I accidentally went to B pier at T-35 when my flight was out of C (it was very early in the AM) - hopped on the shuttle and walked right on the plane by T-20 and that's with probably the longest you'd ever need to wait for the shuttle.
Jan 27, 2019, 10:38 pm
#407
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
The shuttle is a roll of the dice, and usually its fine to take. However, if aircraft are pushing out of gates 23 or 25 or 35 or 37, the shuttle bus will sit and will wait until the alley is clear. Often, that can be 5 to 10 minutes (or more) depending on the number of aircraft that are pushing back and the number of inbounds waiting for a gate.
Jan 28, 2019, 5:13 am
#408
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
The shuttle is a roll of the dice, and usually its fine to take. However, if aircraft are pushing out of gates 23 or 25 or 35 or 37, the shuttle bus will sit and will wait until the alley is clear. Often, that can be 5 to 10 minutes (or more) depending on the number of aircraft that are pushing back and the number of inbounds waiting for a gate.
Jan 28, 2019, 5:16 am
#409
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,922
Or as Clint Eastwood said (in rather different circumstances): "Feel lucky?"
Jan 28, 2019, 8:16 am
#410
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
That is true and in all honesty I've connected one time in my life at DCA (on PMUS) and have taken the shuttle exactly twice because I went in the wrong pier. Believe me, I know that the PreCheck lines at DCA are almost non-existent, but not everyone reading this board is an expert at navigating security, thus I think it worthwhile to share that the bus isn't always doom and gloom.
Feb 4, 2019, 8:14 pm
#411
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Back to UA, missing DL; Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,494
I picked up Mr. silverthief2 from DCA tonight and the arrivals area was a mess. Long car queues at the outer curb to pick up, mainly because there is much less frontage with the construction site but also smaller merge areas to get in and out. Then the taxis joined our long queues where the too-small merge area brought us together.
Feb 4, 2019, 9:30 pm
#412
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I picked up Mr. silverthief2 from DCA tonight and the arrivals area was a mess. Long car queues at the outer curb to pick up, mainly because there is much less frontage with the construction site but also smaller merge areas to get in and out. Then the taxis joined our long queues where the too-small merge area brought us together.
Feb 6, 2019, 7:36 pm
#413
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Back to UA, missing DL; Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,494
May 16, 2019, 6:43 am
#415
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
I hadn't heard about the takeover, and haven't noticed any changes.
May 16, 2019, 9:33 am
#417
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
I noticed a manager walking aroung with an HMS badge who I hadn't seen before. But Sunny and TG are still there!
May 16, 2019, 3:17 pm
#418
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
Cant wait for project Journey to complete, to end the abomination that is gate 35X, and open up more dining options for us airside!
May 19, 2019, 4:45 pm
#419
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 170
Jul 13, 2019, 6:10 pm
#420
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I have a 45 minute connection coming up at DCA. My route is BNA-DCA-SEA, with BNA-DCA operated by AA (OO) and DCA-SEA operated by AS.
How terrible of an idea is this? Seems like I need to reclear security to get to the AS gate.
How terrible of an idea is this? Seems like I need to reclear security to get to the AS gate.